The Labour government’s approach to artificial intelligence and copyright is a mess.
Our creative and tech industries are in opposition. The battle is between property rights and potential overregulation that stifles innovation.
AI is a significant innovation, but our media and creators are also innovators, contributing to and benefiting from developing technologies.
My view is simple. AI and the applications and technologies that stem from it have the potential to improve our lives and stimulate economic growth. But this need not, and must not, be at the expense of our creative industries.
Yet, somehow, instead of ensuring a proper discussion and a balanced solution, the Labour government has managed to polarise the debate.
Labour’s consultation on changes to copyright law has been rightly criticised. Instead of prioritising reforms to data protection regulations that would reduce red tape while safeguarding creativity, Labour have got bogged down solely in defending AI.
Almost the entirety of the creative sector says that the government’s proposals are not fit for purpose. They would allow AI companies to scrape content without creators getting paid. In light of this, the government simply cannot proceed with its rushed consultation and must now rethink its approach.
The European Union has regulated itself out of competitiveness and its approach to copyright — a form of “opt-out” mechanism that the UK government is also seeking — seems to have only made matters worse.
What is rarely acknowledged is that the conversation about the best way to adapt copyright law and reform data protection is only possible because we are no longer members of the EU.
Even Sir Keir Starmer, who campaigned vigorously to prevent Britain from leaving the EU, has had to acknowledge that Brexit has allowed the UK to maintain our global leadership in AI.
The Conservatives have brought forward a proposal that would help bring transparency to AI companies’ use of content, and help creators enforce their rights. Sadly, the government isn’t interested.
How can the government claim to support AI when electricity prices make us uncompetitive? How can it say it supports creative industries when the employers’ national insurance contribution hike is making some businesses unviable?
Britain excels in both the creative and technological sectors, which significantly contribute to our economy and global cultural influence. We’re ranked higher in innovation than many other leading nations.
But innovation does not work without clear intellectual property rights. Under my leadership, the Conservatives will defend property rights while developing proper plans to harness the immense opportunities of AI.
This article was originally published in The Times
